The method of transport you choose for your nomadic lifestyle will depend on how and where you plan to travel. Recreational vehicles are growing increasingly in popularity, though you will need to restrict your journeys to the Americas. Sailing the world is also a feasible way to get around, but if you are planning to make a living with your computer you will need a considerable investment in satellite telephone equipment and on-line costs. Either that or stick near coastal areas where you can pick up Wi-Fi signals. Airlines, trains and bus services often offer “junket fares” where you get unlimited travel, sometimes with restrictions, for a certain time period in a geographical area.

The method you choose for getting around will largely depend on how distant your destination. How frequently you change locations will be another prime consideration. Make an effort to understand the different means of transportation in the places you intend to visit.

Your own personal taste in travel is important. You may want to take off in a chopper and head to Mexico. Maybe you plan to hire a boat for a leisurely journey up the Mekong River. A biking tour of Italy, with frequent stops at vineyards, would appeal to wine lovers. One man drove a car from Vladivostok, Russia across two continents on a six thousand mile journey to Paris. When thinking about train travel, upscale vagabonds fantasize about the famous Orient Express. Actually many countries have excellent and economical train systems. Thailand, for example, has one of the finest, with accommodations for first (a private air-conditioned room), second (a seat, table and a bed) and third class passengers.

One of the most popular nomadic lifestyles in America, especially for the retired, is to purchase a recreational vehicle and hit the open road. Fortunately, you don't have to have a pension or a nest egg to live this kind of free lifestyle any more. You can telecommute from your RV. Business people even use RV's to visit clients and customers, bringing alone their families as they traverse the country.

Rolling Homes

RVs are as inappropriately named as anything I can thing of. Dirt bikes, motor boats and bicycles are recreational vehicles. RVs are really mobile homes. What are sometimes called "mobile homes" are often not even mobile. They don't even have wheels. They are manufactured homes. True mobile homes range from simple trailers that pop-up into a hybrid cross between a tent and a trailer to bus-sized mansions on wheels. Lighter model trailers, with fewer amenities, can be towed behind most large cars. Prices of mobile homes range from a couple thousand dollars for old rigs in disrepair to several hundred thousand and up for the big, plush models that America's most famous RVer, football announcer John Madden, lives in part of the year.

Winnebago-style rigs have the driver in the living area. They resemble a small bus converted to a home on wheels. These can get expensive and luxurious. An advantage is that, unlike the other types, the driver can be visited by anyone else in the vehicle for conversation or coffee. The disadvantage is to drive down to the corner liquor store you have to take your home with you, unless you're lugging a car behind.

Another style is to have your home on the back of a pick-up truck. You can detach the home from the truck. Truck camper RVs are designed to fit over the bed of a pick-up truck. A section of the RV that fits over the cab of the truck is usually used for the bed. They usually offer less living space than trailers or motorhomes.

Travel trailers are homes that are attached to the back of a car or truck and hauled along. Trailers are the equivalent of an apartment on wheels designed to be towed behind a proper tow vehicle such as a truck, sports utility vehicle or specially equipped large car. Pop-ups are the lightest and cheapest type of trailer. They usually range from a tent with sleeping accommodations to complete, solid-walled campers including shower, toilet, stove and refrigerator.

Mobile homes can be equipped with a built-in office: desk, cell-phone, fax, etc. RVers are increasingly getting on-line and many RV parks offer Wi-Fi and satellite television.

Like any nomadic lifestyle you are considering, it's always a wise move to try it out before making a major financial commitment. Try renting a mobile home for at least a couple weeks, to see if you are really compatible with the RV lifestyle, before making a purchase.

I seriously considered buying a used Ford Bronco and a cheap travel trailer (I figured the two could be had for U.S.$10,000) to go wayfaring across the Americas before opting to part for Southeast Asia. The escalating cost of gas was a contributing factor in my decision.

Travel by Air

Most travelers will fly to their destination. Unless you are wealthy, you likely will be flying economy and try to find the least expensive, practical flight available. The most flexible and versatile type of ticket is called a consolidator ticket, which can be as much as 50% less than regular tickets. Using consolidator tickets you can get to most places in the world for less than US$1000. World travelers in particular should consider this type of ticket. A series of consolidator tickets booked by an experienced world travel agent (which can be hard to find) can be cheaper than around-the-world or "global explorer" tickets. Airtreks.com, based in San Francisco, specializes in these types of ticket. The problem with these tickets is they can be hard to find.

Most local travel agents, especially outside of major international markets like San Francisco and New York, have little reason to get into the complexities of world travel. They are probably familiar with trips to popular vacation spots such as Hong Kong and Paris, but mention Caracas or Kuala Lumpur and you get a blank stare. Most of their customers are taking tour package vacations to Hawaii or flying back to Nebraska to visit Mom and Dad.

A good way to find an agent with world travel experience is to check the advertisements in the Sunday travel section of major cities such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami. Look for agents that advertise prices for less than one thousand dollars to places like Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, New Delhi, Istanbul and Cairo. These agents are more likely to be knowledgeable about discount world travel airfares. Many flights to Latin American destinations in Central and South America originate in or are routed through Miami or Houston.

Other possibilities include group travel, student or courier fares. The prices for these fares, especially courier, can be even less than consolidator. Group fares are not likely to be available as one-way tickets. Many times the best price to a certain destination is an airline that flies infrequently, perhaps only once or twice a week. These flights might also have a roundabout way of getting you to your destination. One flight I took to Bangkok from San Francisco had stopovers in Los Angeles, Anchorage, Seoul and Taipei.

One of the best ways to get a cheap fare is through an agency that specializes in tickets to a certain country. For example, in cities with large Filipino populations such as San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles there are Filipino-operated agencies that specialize in flights to and from Manila. That's pretty much all they do. You'll probably get a ticket for less than half the price that a regular neighborhood agency will quote you. The same is true with other ethnic groups. If you want a ticket to Hong Kong, check out the travel agents in Chinatown. Any ethnic community with a significant immigrant population is likely to have a local newspaper with advertisements for the lowest possible airfares. For flights to Mexico or Central America go to a Mexican restaurant or store and ask around.

When planning an extended trip, prepare your itinerary, including each planned destination, indicating dates of departure. If you are not sure how long you plan to stay at a destination, indicate OPEN. Some tickets charge an extra fee for changing the arrival or departure date on the ticket. Here is an example of one possible itinerary:

Departure Date Arrival

Saint Louis 5/9/00 Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro 6/9/00 Santiago

Santiago 7/9/00 Madrid

Barcelona 8/9/00 Saint Louis

In this particular itinerary, your agent will probably have to book you for a stopover in either Miami or Mexico City for the Saint Louis-Rio flight. You might also want to indicate that you will be traveling by train from Madrid to Barcelona, and will arrange your own transportation. The flight from Barcelona to Saint Louis will probably require a stopover in New York. In some instances a flight may not be available on a discount ticket. Depending on how tight your budget, you may decide to omit a flight or choose another destination that your travel agent recommends. Once you learn that your flight has to stop in Mexico City on your way to Rio, you might decide to spend a week in Mexico since it won't cost you any extra.

Information like this can help maximize the value and enjoyment you get from your travels. That's why you need to consider more than just price when you choose a travel agent. After you submit your itinerary, you will receive a price quote and an itinerary from your agent. If it contains more than two or three destinations ask the agent to write it out, including all scheduled stopovers, fax or mail it to you.

When to Buy Air Tickets Online

I've never had much luck finding cheap tickets online, at least for international flights. I've always gotten a better deal buying tickets from local agents and consolidators. Local and domestic flights are another matter. Always compare the price of a ticket from an agent with the price direct from the airline. Usually the agent is cheaper, but sometimes you can get a deal directly from the airline. Forget about the big online sites like Expedia and Travelocity if you want a good deal. Cheaptickets, Priceline and Airtreks (specializing in around the world ticketing) are all worth looking at for cheap air tickets, but you will likely get a better deal using the resources I discussed above.

Purchasing Air Tickets Overseas

Sometimes you may find it necessary to purchase tickets overseas. This is particularly true if you plan extended travel, or simply change your mind. If you aren't sure how long you plan to stay in Micronesia, or where you want to go after that, it will be necessary to buy your ticket there. Contrary to what some travel agents may tell you, you don't need to buy a ticket in the country you are departing from. If they refuse to sell a ticket that originates in another country, it is probable that the reason is company policy, not because of any regulation.

Even so, you are not likely to get a better price on an airline ticket overseas than from a good discount agency in San Francisco or New York. If you purchase a ticket overseas, avoid paying cash to an agent you are unsure of who insists you pay the entire ticket price in advance before the ticket is issued. Offer a deposit of 10% to 20% of the ticket price, with the balance due when you pick up the ticket. Most agents in developing countries cannot issue a ticket immediately, but it should never take more than 24 hours.

Travel by Car

Travel by car is my least preferable method of overseas travel. Trains and buses are safer and cheaper methods of travel. If you must travel by car, it is possible to bring your own, rent, purchase or hire a car overseas. Most countries you visit will have rental cars available. Car renter's who pay with credit cards sometimes get insurance in the package, but you should check out the details before to make sure your credit card company provides coverage for the country you're renting in. In some places you can hire a private car or taxi with an English-speaking guide for a day for a rate comparable to renting a car. Your hotel can be helpful in locating a guide. Sometimes they park outside the hotel and solicit customers.

Shipping a Car Overseas

It is possible to ship your car from the U.S. to the place you are traveling, assuming your destination has road access to a port city, by cargo ship. If you choose this route do your homework first. Since the paperwork, regulations and duty fees required by the countries of origin and destination can be daunting and complex, it's best to find a customs broker or shipping agent who is experienced shipping vehicles to and from the ports involved. Try to schedule your arrival in time to be there when your vehicle arrives.

Driving Overseas

Licensing requirements vary in foreign countries. Most countries only require that you have a valid local driver's license, while a few require a license plus an International Driving Permit (IDP). In the U.S. IDP's can be obtained at American Automobile Association offices. You also need to find out the registration and insurance requirements of the country where you want to drive. The information should be obtained before you arrive. It is available from the country's embassy or consulate.

Travel by Bus

In many parts of the world buses are the most common form of transportation, especially in rural areas. They are extremely cheap. At one extreme a bus can be the most uncomfortable form of transportation imaginable. Imagine being packed elbow-to-elbow in a rickety bus driving on a bumpy, unpaved road with dust swirling everywhere, with passengers, gasping for air, hanging out of windows or sitting on the roof. At the other extreme many tourist buses have comfortable seats, air-conditioning, a movie, a hostess serving snacks and refreshments, and a toilet. In many countries the size of the average person can be fifty pounds and six inches smaller than in your home country. Bus seats designed to accommodate smaller people can be incredibly uncomfortable to big people. Bus travel, with theexception of tourist buses, is usually the least expensive motorized way to travel.

Travel by Train

This is my favorite form of transportation, especially overseas. Train travel is extensive and widely used, especially in Europe and parts of Asia. It can be less expensive than flying. For computer nomads, it is even possible to get some work done, depending on the class of seating you purchase. First class passengers typically have a private, air-conditioned cabin with a bed that folds into a couch. Second class will have an open compartment with a folding table that can be used for a desk, the seat converting into a bed or folding down for sleep. Third class will not have a bed, and the seat may not even be padded. Not all railway systems offer three classes of seating, and may only have one, but this illustrates the range of accommodations available on railroads around the world.

Even if you are smitten by the romance of railroads, there is no argument that they are by far the safest and most comfortable ground transportation. Railroads offer the smoothest of rides, without the turbulence of flight or the bumps of the road. Rail tickets are typically cheaper than air, and sometimes even cheaper than bus. If you sleep on the train you save the cost of a hotel room, which can often be the equivalent of a free trip for overnight journeys. You could spend months traveling and living on the train, especially if your travels take you to Europe and Asia.

Train lovers have a huge variety of rail passes that allow for unlimited travel within a certain geographic area within a limited time period. The most famous pass of all is the Eurailpass, which offers a wide choice of prices and packages for rail travel throughout much of Europe. Canada, Australia, Japan and USA also offer rail passes. Some passes are only available if you purchase them before arriving in the countries serviced by your pass. Developing countries sometimes offer rail passes that can be purchased after arrival in the country. India, Malaysia and Thailand have extensive rail systems offering some sort of rail pass.

Motorcycles and Bicycles

These vehicles can be rented by the day, week or month in many parts of the world. They are by far the most dangerous method of transportation, but experienced motorcyclists may find them an economic and convenient way to get around. Three-wheeled motorbikes are common in many countries such as Thailand and the Philippines, but are nearly always used for taxis or delivery service. Many countries have more motorbikes on the road than cars and trucks combined. A wide variety of motorbikes are available, from simple motorscooters to Harley choppers. Also available for rental in much of the world, bicycles are an even less expensive way to get around. If you are planning a prolonged stay you can pick up a new Honda motorbike for US$1,000 in many countries.